08.05.14

Hoeven, Airport Officals Review Progress on New Minot International Airport Terminal, Runway, Apron Project

Senator Instrumental in Securing Nearly $32 Million in Federal Funding for Multiphase Project

MINOT– Senator John Hoeven along with Minot Airport and city leaders today reviewed the progress on the new terminal building and other important projects currently underway to improve Minot International Airport. The work comes in response to tremendous economic growth, increased population and record boardings at the facility.

Last week, Hoeven announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) had awarded an additional $1.5 million, for a total of nearly $10.5 million in grant funding to complete the new runway and apron project.

The senator announced in May that the airport would receive nearly $9 million in DOT Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants for the project. However, airport authorities found they needed an additional $1.5 million to complete the new apron project in the current construction season and applied to the FAA for another $1.5 million. As of two weeks ago, they had not received a decision from the FAA and asked Hoeven to intervene.

Hoeven contacted FAA Administrator Michael Huerta and asked him to expedite a decision so that the project could be completed this year. Last week, Hoeven was notified that the DOT had awarded nearly $1.5 million more for a total of nearly $10.5 million to complete construction.

Hoeven has worked to secure resources for airports and air travel in the rapidly growing region, including helping to secure more flights to major hubs and funding to accommodate the rising number of boardings.

In his role on the Appropriations Committee, the senator has worked to secure funding for the Airport Improvement Program (AIP). As a result, Minot International Airport has received a total of nearly $32 million since 2012 to support its expansion, including the $10.5 in Fiscal Year 2014 funding. That includes funding for a new terminal, runway, runway apron and a building to house snow-removal equipment. The new terminal is expected to open in the fall of 2015. The new terminal, which will be triple the size of the current terminal, will mean room for more aircraft, more space for travelers, improved passenger screening, better parking and other amenities to make air travel more comfortable and convenient. The terminal can also add additional gates in the future to accommodate further growth in boardings.

Last year, North Dakota received a total of more than $32 million in AIP grants for Minot and airports across the state, including facilities in Grand Forks, Fargo Bismarck, Jamestown, Dickinson, Mandan, Watford City and Williston.

“Our entire state is growing, in terms of both people and our economy,” said Hoeven. “That’s especially true of Minot and the entire western region of North Dakota. Infrastructure like the terminal, runway and other construction at Minot Airport is designed to keep up with the growing demand for air travel that comes with general economic growth.”